Theft from football dressing room

Hertfordshire Mercury, 20th March 1931 and 22nd May 1931

Transcript

20th March 1931

Ronald Harry Halsey (50) , 15 Bury Road , Hatfield , was charged with stealing 2 shillings from clothing in a dressing room at the Hatfield Football Ground pavilion, on Saturday, March 14 , and further with attempting to steal from clothing in the dressing room at the Hatfield Football Ground pavilion, on Saturday , March14, and further with attempting to steal from clothing in the dressing room.

Defendant, who elected to be dealt with by the Bench, pleaded guilty to stealing 2 shillings ,and not guilty to attempting to steal from clothing.

Harry Large,of Redbourn, said he came to Hatfield to play football, and on changing he left his trousers in the pavilion . He had 4 shillings in his pocket. When he went to his trousers at 4.30 p.m. two sixpences were missing.

Arthur Stevens , of Redbourn , said there was 2s. 7d. in his trousers when he changed and left them in the pavilion in order to play football . On his return he found that 1 shilling was missing .

Mrs Florence Statham, also of Redbourn , said she watched defendant through a window of the pavilion, and saw him put his hand into the trouser pocket of one of the players .

P.S. Reeves said that the same afternoon defendant was pointed out to him , and when he stopped him the man immediately said ” I never took any money .” Witness took defendant to the Police Station , and on being charged with stealing money and further with attempting to steal, he said : ” I will be honest and truthful. I will own to it . It was a sudden impulse . I have a wife and nine children , and I have had a lot of trouble lately. ” Defendant added that his wife was lying between life and death , and he would like the Bench to be lenient with him .

The Chairman said it was rather a disgrace to defendant and the name that he bore . They would take a lenient view and bind him over for 12 months , and he would have to pay the cost of the prosecution , which amounted to £2 6s. 10d.

Defendant was allowed six weeks in which to pay .

22nd May 1931

Ronald Harry Halsey (50), of 15 Bury Road, Hatfield, who was given six weeks to pay £2 10s. on a charge of stealing 2 shillings from the clothing of some football players in the dressing room of the Hatfield F.C. , appeared, and said that he had been out of work and unable to pay . All he had was 10 shillings a week from Poor Law relief. He was promised work next week and hoped to be able to pay in due course .

The Magistrates committed defendant to three weeks’ imprisonment , and he was removed in custody .

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